Letters to the Editor for Feb. 5, 2012

Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 8:10 am, Monday, February 6, 2012

Source of ‘oil field tales’ remains mystery

Mr. Areniva’s column about the mud logger and the gum balls is interesting, but I have been telling that tale for more than 20 years. I could never find anyone it actually happened to; it always had been done by a friend of a friend.

Hmmm, maybe someone who heard me tell the tale took me seriously, but I wonder. There are many “oil field tales,” like the roughneck who accidentally dropped the wrench down the hole when the rig was out of the hole. He ’fessed up to the driller and said I guess I’m fired. The driller said no, accidents happen. After several days of fishing, they got the wrench and the driller said now you’re fired. The roughneck picked up the wrench and dropped it back down the hole and walked off location.

I heard this tale in West Virginia in 1973 when I first started in the oil field and again when I came to West Texas in 1974. In both cases, the roughneck swore it happened on his rig.

Robert Kahle

Basin PBS and Ritz Theater is good match

I was intrigued and excited to learn that Midland business leaders are working in tandem with Basin PBS to create a home for our public television station in downtown Midland at the historic Ritz Theater.

This move serves multiple purposes. Downtown revitalization is critical to the long-term stabilization of our community. At the same time, West Texans deserve a quality public television station capable of representing our community’s values and unique perspective.

The renovation of the Ritz Theater saves a rich aspect of our city’s history. Basin PBS can provide a cultural anchor for downtown while continuing to serve the Permian Basin with quality programming and on-air visibility for many of our nonprofit organizations.

This is a tremendous example of the power of collaboration. Kudos to all involved for their vision and creative problem-solving.

Claire Woodcock

Current government willing to trample religious liberties

On Jan. 20, our government decreed some churches would have to face a choice between following church teaching and following the law. Specifically, our government has decided all health care plans must offer free contraceptives, including those that work by causing a chemical abortion to occur within the first few days of life in the womb.

For Catholics, as well as many other Christians and non-Christians, this is morally unconscionable. It amounts to cooperating in an abortion, and that is simply not a choice anyone should be forced to make.

But, doesn’t the new regulation contain an exemption for church organizations? Not really. Four conditions, all of which must be met, are required for exemption. These conditions require the organization “(1) has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves people who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a non-profit organization.”

Is our government really expecting Catholic hospitals, which in the U.S. serve 15 percent of all people admitted to a hospital, to turn away non-Christians and fire their non-Christian staff? Are they asking Catholic charities to withhold support from agnostics in need? Is it possible the current administration wants to see that the hundreds of thousands of people of many faiths who work for these organizations are denied health care coverage because their employer cannot in good conscience comply with the government requirements?

Clearly, the current administration, in order to advance its agenda, is willing to trample the religious liberties Americans have held dear for more than two centuries. Now is the time for our represented officials to firmly re-establish our rights by enacting conscience protection legislation for all Americans.

We are looking for candidates to represent the American people in a sturdy fashion against pressure from the liberal media to compromise our religious and constitutional values in the name of

“bi-partisanship.”

Restoring fiscal sanity is the main issue on the campaign trail to Congress, to block Obama’s liberal social agenda of high taxes, big government and less liberty.

We have a man in San Angelo who will fight against Obama’s drive for socialism. His name is Chris Younts.

Allan R. Henderson, San Angelo

We need to elect representatives who will fight for term limits

With the U.S. Congressional approval rating hovering around 11 percent, it is evident we must effect changes to the tenure of those in office. Our corrupted political system now guaranties incumbents a 98 percent re-election rate, which recalls quotes dating back more than 240 years: “Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it,” and “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Congressional term limits can help stop the governmental corruption and gridlock present in our legislative process. There is minor but growing support in both houses of Congress to change these limits.

We must elect representatives to Congress who will support and join the fight for term limits. U.S. Representative, District 11 candidate Chris Younts is the person to help in that fight. Chris Younts’ opponent, Mike Conaway, has served four terms and is running for his fifth, which says he does not favor term limits.

Note: Candidate endorsement letters for local, state or federal contests are no longer than 200 words.

Pipeline needs to be positioned somewhere else

To my “friends” on the right, I don’t object to your pipeline. I object to your pipeline being run stupidly. Fossil fuels are dirty, and this stuff from the oil sands is the dirtiest of the dirty. And, you want to send this stuff through the cornfields and over the aquifer? Well, bravo, Mr. President. Thank you for not letting big oil, once again, defecate where we eat.

Can we please be smart? Just move the pipeline west a couple hundred miles through Billings, Mont., where there used to be a refinery. Continue it south to Casper, Wyo., which used to have two refineries but one got shut down, and then take it to Cheyenne, Wyo., with “Little America” refinery. Between the Rocky Mountains and the cornfields is some pretty desolate country if we spill.

Please tell me we are not going to endanger our food and water supply for politics. Please tell me it’s not as simple as bringing pipeline jobs to hard-core Republican country. Wyoming is Republican, just not as densely packed, and Colorado is a swing state, but I bet they would be every bit as appreciative for the jobs.

And, I almost hesitate on this one final point. I fear our news media just gives the terrorists more ideas, so I hate to do that. But, I must point out that if we run this pipeline through our food and water, that might make a pretty juicy terrorist target.

Emerson Stone

Taxpayers shouldn’t be responsible for politicians’ mistakes

The recession of 2008 was a devastating blow to this country, which is an understatement in what happened. No matter who want to blame — either party — we are all in this together.

What I can’t figure out is why nobody went to prison. All the players in this catastrophic debacle should have gone to prison. The kicker to this whole mess is the taxpayer has to pick up the bill. What about our children’s future and grandchildren’s future?

If you are going to pass the buck to the taxpayers, shouldn’t Congress read the whole bill to the bailout package? If I and the regular taxpayer have a budget, shouldn’t our government be a little more fiscally responsible with theirs. The taxpayers of this great country shouldn’t be made scapegoats for our politicians’ irresponsibility.